I have a 97 CL with a 2.2 Vtec attached to a 5 speed. Car has been running perfectly until two days ago. It started to loose power in the mid range. I can hold the gas and the RPMs start to fall (slowly). If I throttle it above 4500 or so RPM it catches without an issue and is Ok...until I let it drift to some lower RPM's where it repeats some times. It will sometimes clean up and be OK. This morning it did back fire when I let it wind down in this losing power range. I put new plugs in it the other day and compaired old and new plugs ad they seem to be buring normally. No codes are being thrown either. I am about to go out and check the fuel pressure. I thought MAP but since I have no codes I do not think so...any suggestions for trouble shooting? Thanks...B

 

I would go back to the last thing i did. Double check make sure plugs are torqued to proper specs, check plug wires to make sure they are not damaged and in proper locations.

 

I have rechecked. lean code still there. new MAP. No difference. seems to be degrading. Can valve lash cause this sort of condition?

 

Pull the upper cam sprocket cover off, and inspect the belt tension. See if the nut that maintains the belt tension has loosened(the one that sticks out of the plastic covers midway up with the rubber washer)

 

you might go ahead and check your TPS as well, i recently had the same problem in my 99 accord and it was my MAP, did you replace the o-ring under the MAP when u replaced it?